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Novel use of chilli
The hottest chilli on earth found in Assam of the North East, is now being used in a novel idea: to ward off wild elephants encroaching into human habitat and paddy fields. Bhot Jolokia (the latter means chilli) in local language, the chilli’s fiery power has been acknowledged as fiercest by the Guinness Book of World Records this year. Now wildlife experts, attempting to find ways to keep off the marauding elephants from coming into conflict with humans, and probably getting killed by poisoning as happened sometime ago on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, are experimenting by rubbing the jolokia powder on jute fences. Bursting smoke chilli bombs is another idea. The experts are keeping their fingers crossed hoping that even the huge elephants would be intimidated by the bhot jolokia’s considerable power.
Shabana Azmi heads jury at Asia Pacific Screen Awards
A five year old budding star from Australia’s favourite theme park, Dreamworld, got a taste of international stardom when he rubbed shoulders with screen legends from around the world, including Shabana Azmi, at the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards held at Australia’s Gold Coast recently. International jury members headed by Azmi, actors, producers and awards nominees for 34 films from 19 countries in the Asia Pacific region had the rare opportunity to meet one of Australia’s most loveable mascots, Bronte the koala, alongside one of Australia’s most maligned Twist, the olive python.
At this inaugural film festival, films from Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, India, Iran, Turkey and Israel received Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
“This in an initiative whose time has come, politically and culturally. Many countries in the region have their own national awards but now they have an award that affords the highest honour to filmmakers in over 70 countries,” said Azmi.
The Jury Grant Prize went to Night Bus of Iran by writer and director, Kiumars Pourhamad. The Best Screenplay award went to India’s Feroz Abbas Khan for his film Gandhi,My Father.
Westward ho!
Indian tourists are stepping out to new shores more and more and discovering destinations beyond the mandatory Western Europe circuit, according to reports. In 2006, 8.34 million travellers from India set out to see the world abroad. The figure is estimated to swell to 10 million this year. What’s more they are getting more adventurous, setting off to places like Finland, Spain, Austria, Norway etc. The traditional apprehension about food of choice is no longer a hindrance to the travellers too as has been found as they are getting exposed to different cuisines at home today. Following such encouraging trends many countries in Europe are now opening their tourist offices in India.
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